Chlamydia 101 Chlamydia Is a Very Common Sexually Transmitted Disease (Std)

CHLAMYDIA 101 CHLAMYDIA IS A VERY COMMON SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD). THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT MOST OFTEN IT’S COMPLETELY CURABLE.

THE FACTS Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted disease 1 in 10 teens who have sex (STD). It’s a bacterial infection that can be passed during has Chlamydia. unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex. People who have chlamydia often show no symptoms, which is why many spread the infection to their partners without knowing it. ... it’s really common

The good news is that chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics. But if someone with chlamydia doesn’t get treated, it can cause serious health consequences, like POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS infertility (the inability to have children). That’s why it’s so Most people don’t experience any symptoms when they important to get tested, learn your status, and get treated have chlamydia, but if you do notice something unusual, if you have it. your symptoms might include: • Itching, pain, bleeding, or discharge from your rectum People with chlamydia are more likely to be infected • Abnormal discharge from the vagina, penis, or rectum • Burning or itching when you pee with HIV by an infected partner . • Pain or discomfort during sex • Pain, bleeding, or discharge from your rectum • Throat infection (if you have oral sex)

• Nausea or fever

Women may also experience pain in the belly or back (sometimes with a fever) and bleeding after sex or between periods. DO I HAVE CHLAMYDIA? As with other STDs, the only way to know for sure if you have chlamydia is to get tested. Getting tested is easy. To test you for chlamydia your healthcare provider will collect a urine sample (pee) or a swab sample. STD tests should not hurt at all, but if you experience any discomfort tell your provider.

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CHLAMYDIA 101 continued...

Get Tested Getting tested with your partner, and treated if you have FOR WEEKLY HEALTH TIPS an infection, will keep you safe from the negative consequences of chlamydia. CONTESTS AND LIFE ADVICE... Be Smart Have sex with only one partner, who has been tested and TEXT ‘NATIVE’ TO 24587 is not infected, and who is only having sex with you.

Stay Clear Avoid drinking alcohol and doing drugs before you have sex. It’s difficult to make good decisions under the GETTING TREATED influence. Fortunately, chlamydia can be easily treated with antibiotics. But because someone can become reinfected WHAT DOESN’T WORK with chlamydia, it’s important that you and all of your • “Pulling out” before a man ejaculates into the vagina partners get tested and treated (if you are infected). or anus • Birth control (it only reduces risk for pregnancy) People with chlamydia should not have sex until they - and their sex partners - finish treatment. • Washing your genitals, peeing, or douching after sex HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FOR MORE INFORMATION Get Educated For vaginal and anal sex: Learn how to use latex For additional information about chlamydia and other condoms the right way, and use them every time. They’re STDs visit: the only way to prevent STDs during vaginal and anal • www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/know sex. • www.plannedparenthood.org • www.weRnative.org For oral sex: Use condoms for oral sex on a penis, and dental dams for oral sex on a vagina or anus. For fingering, hand jobs, and other intimate touching: Wash your hands with soap and water after touching your partner’s genitals before touching your own (and vice versa). To be extra safe, some people choose to use latex gloves. Find what works for you. ... FOR NATIVE YOUTH BY NATIVE YOUTH HIV & AIDS THERE IS NO CURE FOR HIV/AIDS. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IF TREATED EARLY PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS CAN LIVE LONG HEALTHY LIVES.

WHAT IS HIV? 1 in 5 people with HIV... HIV is a virus that attacks the cells in your body’s immune system. Because your immune system normally defends don’t know they are infected. your body against illness, HIV makes it difficult for your body to fight off diseases and infections. HIV can be passed on during unprotected vaginal, oral, and anal sex, through sharing needles or syringes, and from an HIV positive mother to her child during pregnancy, birth, or breast feeding. People who have HIV often show no symptoms, which is why HIV positive people That’s why it’s so important to get tested, learn your sta- may spread the infection without knowing it. tus, and get treated if you learn you are HIV positive. Treatments for HIV have improved significantly, WHAT IS AIDS? and many people who receive treatment early live long AIDS is an advanced stage of HIV. There are two ways healthy lives. doctors decide if an HIV positive person has AIDS: If you are HIV positive, your healthcare provider can 1. Based on infections- When an HIV positive person teach you how to care for yourself and will provide you gets one or more infections that do not usually affect with information on different treatment options. someone who is healthy. DO I HAVE HIV? 2. Based on blood tests- When the number of healthy The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get immune cells in an HIV positive person drops to a tested. Getting tested is easy. To test you for HIV your certain low point, or when the amount of HIV in healthcare provider will collect either a blood sample or a their blood reaches a certain high point. swab from your mouth. These tests should not hurt, but if you experience any discomfort tell your provider.

How quickly someone with HIV advances to AIDS depends on many different factors. One important factor is how quickly a person gets tested and gets into care.

HIV & AIDS continued... Get Tested FOR WEEKLY HEALTH TIPS Get tested with your partner, and discuss how you will have safer sex if one or both of you are infected. Ask to CONTESTS AND LIFE ADVICE... be tested if you learn that you are pregnant. This is an important step to protecting your baby’s health. TEXT ‘NATIVE’ TO 24587 Be Smart Have sex with only one partner, who has been tested and is not infected, and who is only having sex with you.

Stay Clear Avoid drinking alcohol and doing drugs before you have WHAT IF I TEST POSITIVE FOR HIV? sex. It’s difficult to make good decisions when under the Fortunately, with the availability of different treatments influence. today, you can lead a long and healthy life as an HIV positive person. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET TESTED? Young people who are sexually active should get tested at If you’ve tested positive, see a doctor who has experience least once a year. It’s also smart to get tested before you treating HIV even if you don’t feel sick, find a support start a new sexual relationship, or if someone you’ve had system that can help you cope with the emotional sex with tells you that they are HIV positive. It’s easy. Just challenges ahead, talk with your partners about your ask your healthcare provider. status, and learn how to reduce the risk of passing on HIV by using latex condoms and dental dams. WHAT DOESN’T WORK

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF • “Pulling out” before a man ejaculates into the vagina or anus Get Educated Birth control (it only reduces risk for pregnancy) For vaginal and anal sex: Learn how to use latex con- • doms the right way, and use them every time. They’re the • Washing your genitals, peeing, or douching after only way to prevent STDs during vaginal and anal sex. sex

For oral sex: Use condoms for oral sex on a penis, and FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HIV/AIDS dental dams for oral sex on a vagina or anus. • www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/know • www.plannedparenthood.org For fingering, hand jobs, and other intimate touching : • www.weRnative.org Wash your hands with soap and water after touching your partner’s genitals before touching your own (and vice versa). To be extra safe, some people choose to use latex gloves. Find what works for you. ... FOR NATIVE YOUTH BY NATIVE YOUTH CONDOMS CONDOMS ARE EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS) AND PREGNANCY.

THE FACTS Condoms come in lots of colors, textures, and sizes. The If you start to put a condom on the wrong way, throw it most important thing to consider is that the condom be away and use a new one. You’ll know it’s inside out made of latex or polyurethane. Both of these are effective because it won’t roll down the length of the penis easily. at preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV. Also while male condoms are more 1 in 2 sexually active young people popular- female condoms are a good choice too. Like male condoms, they can be used by both men and women will get an STD during vaginal and anal sex. ... before the age of 25. The most common mistake is not using condoms...

from the start (of sexual contact) REMOVING A CONDOM to finish (after ejaculation) Right after ejaculation, hold the base of the condom (so it stays in place and semen cannot spill out), and slowly withdraw the penis while it is still hard. The condom should be wrapped in tissue and thrown away. Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your partner’s genitals.

PUTTING A CONDOM ON CORRECTLY WHAT IF THE CONDOM BREAKS? 1 - The rolled condom should be placed over the head of If you feel the condom break while you are having sex the penis when it is hard. stop immediately, withdraw the penis, remove the broken 2- Then pinch the tip enough to leave about a half inch condom, wash your hands with soap and water, and put space for the semen to collect. on a new condom. 3- Holding the tip, unroll the condom all the way down to the base of the penis. The condom should fit snuggly – but not too tight- so that it won’t break during sex.

Condoms continued...

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Condoms can break, slip off, or leak if they are not put on Tip 2: Never use oil-based lubricant with a condom (like or taken off properly. If this happens while you are petroleum jelly, body lotion, or vegetable oil), because having penis-vagina sex, emergency contraception (EC) they can cause the latex to break down, reducing the can be used to prevent pregnancy. EC can be started condoms effectiveness. 5 days after having unprotected sex, but the sooner it’s started the better it works. Tip 3: Condoms should be kept in cool, dry places (not wallets or in the car!), and always check the expiration BUYING CONDOMS date to make sure the condom has not expired. You can buy condoms in lots of places like grocery stores, gas stations, and dispensers in bathrooms. Test- FOR MORE INFORMATION ing centers and clinics also may have free condoms For additional information about condoms visit: available. • www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/know • www.plannedparenthood.org Many people feel nervous about going to the store to • www.weRnative.org buy condoms or grabbing them from a free basket at the clinic. But remember, lots of people use condoms and all it really says about you is that you are being responsible for you and your partner’s sexual health.

THREE TIPS FOR USING CONDOMS Tip 1: Using a pre-lubricated condom or putting a small amount of water-based lubricant (lube) inside and outside the condom can help prevent rips. This is especially important during anal sex, because unlike the mouth or vagina, the rectum has no natural lubricant.

... FOR NATIVE YOUTH BY NATIVE YOUTH Dental Dams

DENTAL DAMS ARE GREAT AT PROTECTING AGAINST STDS DURING ORAL SEX.

THE FACTS Dental dams are thin sheets of latex or polyurethane 5 – Remember that only one side of the dam should (rubber) that come in lots of different colors, sizes, and come into contact with the genitals, and one side should flavors. They are a great way to way to prevent the spread come into contact with the mouth. of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) during oral sex performed on the vagina or anus. 6 – When you are finished performing oral sex on your partner, throw out the dam. Dental dams should be used Dental dams get their name because they can be used only once. during different dental procedures. But because dental dams can protect both against skin-to-skin contact and the 7 – Wash your hands with soap and water. exchange of body fluids (like semen, vaginal fluid, and blood), they are becoming a popular safe sex tool. Keep in mind that when you use a dental dam, you have two safer sex goals. To prevent spreading or Keep dental dams in cool dry places and getting STDs you must: check their expiration date . a) prevent exchanging any body fluids (like vaginal fluid, semen, or blood) with your partner, and

USING DENTAL DAMS b) prevent any direct skin-to-skin contact with your 1 – Check the expiration date on the dental dam partner’s genitals and your mouth. package. If it is still good, unfold the dental dam and visually check it for any holes or tears. Never use oil-based lube with 2 – If the dental dam has cornstarch powder on it, rinse a latex dental dam. It can make it that off with water. Starch may cause an infection in the vagina and irritation on the anus. less effective. 3 – Apply water-based lubricant to the side of the dental dam that will touch your partner’s genitals. This increases your partner’s sensitivity.

4 – Place the dental dam over your partner’s genitals and hold it in place, so it doesn’t move too much.

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You can also cut open a medical glove, either made of latex or nitrile (for those with latex sensitivities). The FOR WEEKLY HEALTH TIPS easiest way to make a glove into a dental dam is to cut the CONTESTS AND LIFE ADVICE... four fingers off the top of the glove, and then slit down the side of the glove - leaving the thumb intact. If you do this, TEXT ‘NATIVE’ TO 24587 you can use the thumb to insert your tongue or finger into your partner while still practicing safe oral sex.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Dental dams are a great way to prevent STDs and play it safe during oral sex. If you still have questions after BUYING DENTAL DAMS reading this fact sheet, check out the sites below, but Dental dams can be challenging to find. A promising first also remember that your doctor, nurse or other health- stop for those seeking them are sexual health care provider can provide you with more information organizations, like Planned Parenthood, or online. You about the resources available in your local area. can also buy dental dams at some pharmacies, gas stations and grocery stores. Testing centers and clinics TO LEARN MORE VISIT: may also have them available for free. • www.plannedparenthood.org

CREATING YOUR OWN DENTAL DAMS • www.weRnative.org

If you are having trouble finding dental dams, unlubricated or dry condoms can be made easily into good substitutes. If you make a dental dam from a condom... make sure it doesn’thave a spermicide (like nonoxynol-9). With scissors carefully snip off the ...It tastes gross and numbs your tongue. elastic band part and tip of a condom and then cut down its length.

The resulting rectangular piece of latex or polyurethane is stretchable.

... FOR NATIVE YOUTH BY NATIVE YOUTH STD Testing Facts SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS) ARE REALLY COMMON. BUT MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN STD DON’T KNOW THEY HAVE ONE.

THE LOW DOWN ON STDS 1 in 2 sexually active people... Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are very common. In fact, 1 in 2 sexually active young people will get an STD will get an STD by the age of 25. by the age of 25. The good news - all are treatable and many are curable.

ARE YOU STD SAVVY? WHY GET TESTED? Some facts… Many times, people who are infected with an STD don’t • You can get an STD through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, experience any symptoms. So a lot of people who are or even from skin-to-skin contact with the genital area infected don’t actually know it. But not getting treated for an STD can have serious consequences - like infertility • 1 out of 4 sexually active teens will get an STD this year (not being able to have children). Also, some STDs can • Roughly half of all people who get HIV are under 25 increase your risk for certain types of cancer. The only • Having an STD can increase your risk of getting HIV, if way to know if you or anyone else has an STD is to get you have sex with an infected person tested.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN TESTING? People who have an STD are more likely to be infected If you are sexually active, you should get screened for STDs at least once a year. The type of tests you need may vary, depending on your situation. Your tests may include: a physi- with HIV by an infected partner . cal exam by your health care provider, a urine sample (where you pee in a cup), a blood test, or a swipe with a q-tip swab. These tests might be a little uncomfortable, but none of them should hurt.

Sometimes treatment is prescribed right away. Other times your provider may need to send a sample away to a lab.

STD Testing Facts continued...

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HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET TESTED? Get Educated Young people who are sexually active should get tested For vaginal and anal sex: Learn how to use latex con- at least once a year. It’s also smart to get tested before doms the right way, and use them every time. They’re the you start a new sexual relationship, or if you are only way to prevent STDs during vaginal and anal sex. experiencing anything atypical down there. It’s easy. Just ask your healthcare provider. For oral sex: Use condoms for oral sex on a penis, and dental dams for oral sex on a vagina or anus. WILL MY PARENTS KNOW? For fingering, hand jobs, and other intimate touching: In most states teens can be tested for STDs without their Wash your hands with soap and water after touching parents’ permission. If you are under 18, ask about the your partner’s genitals before touching your own (and clinic’s privacy policies when making your appointment: vice versa). To be extra safe, some people choose to use Will they call you at home with test results? Will they latex gloves. Find what works for you. send you a bill? Will they send any other mail? Every facility works differently - you just have to ask. Get Tested Getting tested with your partner and treating any FOR MORE INFORMATION infection, will keep you safe from the negative For more information about STDs visit: consequences of STDs. • www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/know Be Smart • www.plannedparenthood.org Have sex with only one partner, who has been tested and • www.weRnative.org is not infected, and who is only having sex with you.

Stay Clear Avoid drinking alcohol and doing drugs before you have sex. It’s difficult to make good decisions when under the influence. ... FOR NATIVE YOUTH BY NATIVE YOUTH National Resources